Memory Eternal!

Archpriest Peter E. Gillquist, retired chairman of the archdiocese's department of missions and evangelism, chairman of Conciliar Press, speaker, and the author of numerous books including Becoming Orthodox, reposed on Sunday evening July 1, surrounded by his family.

Fr. Peter and his wife of 52 years, Kh. Marilyn, had lived for many years in Santa Barbara, California, but as of June 2009 they relocated to Bloomington, Indiana, where their son Fr. Peter Jon Gillquist serves as pastor of All Saints Orthodox Church.

Condolences may be posted on the All Saints website, where tributes have been pouring from all over the United States and abroad. A recent Ancient Faith Radio retirement interview with Fr. Peter, Kh. Marilyn and Fr. Peter Jon, is available here. The schedule of services is as follows:

MEMORY ETERNAL! Florence Kouri (nee Cohlmia) of St. George Cathedral/Wichita, KS, mother of Honorary Archdiocesan Trustee Dr. Sammy Kouri and Dr. Harry Kouri, reposed this morning, June 21st, at the age of 98. Condolences may be sent to the family at SKouri@cox.net

The schedule of divine services, all of which will served at St. George Cathedral, is as follows:

TRISAGION & FUNERAL on Sunday, June 24th at 7:00 PM.

TRISAGION & INTERMENT on Monday, June 25th at 11:00 AM. A Meal of Mercy will immediately follow the interment.

MAY SHE BE GRANTED PARADISE! Eleven priests and two deacons served with me the Trisagion Prayers and Funeral for Kh. Lilija Veronica Vreeland on Wednesday and Thursday at St. George Church in Kearney, Nebraska. Hundreds of layfolk from all over the diocese and elsewhere filled every available space on the ground-floor and balcony of St. George Church for these divine services and, led by Kearney's very fine chanters, beautifully sang congregational responses at the divine services. May Khouriya Lilija's memory be eternal, and may you and your families be granted long life.

His Grace Bishop Basil writes:

Khouriya Lilija Veronica Vreeland, retired from St. George Church in Kearney, Nebraska, reposed at 1:50PM on Sunday, May 27th after a long and heroic battle with cancer. May she be granted Paradise! Condolences to our brother Fr. Philip and the children and grandchildren.

The schedule of divine services for Khouriya Lilija is as follows:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 30th Visitation at St George Church 5:00-7:00PM Trisagion Prayers of Mercy 7:00PM Reception will follow in the parish fellowship hall. THURSDAY, MAY 31st Funeral at 10:30AM Interment at Kearney Cemetery Mercy Meal will follow in the parish fellowshiop hall.

Please join me in praying a rope for Khouriya Lilija's respose, saying, "O Lord Jesus Christ, grant rest to the soul of Thy departed servant." May her memory be eternal, and may you be granted long life.

His Eminence Metropolitan Philip writes to His Eminence Archbishop Antony of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA:

Christ is Risen!

It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing into eternal life of His Eminence, Metropolitan CONSTANTINE just two days after celebrating his 40th anniversary in the holy and sacred episcopacy. Please know that the his loss is not only felt among the clergy and faithful of your God-protected archdiocese, but throughout Orthodox America. Having worked with Metropolitan CONSTANTINE in both SCOBA and the Assembly of Bishops over many years, I knew him to be a faithful servant in the vineyard of the Lord. On behalf of our local synod of bishops, and the clergy and faithful of our Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, we express our most sincere condolences to the hierarchy, clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. Be assured that we will remember him in our prayers for the next 40 days.

Praying that his soul is resting with the saints and that his memory be eternal, I remain,

Your Brother in the Risen Lord,

Metropolitan PHILIPArchbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA Consistory Office of Public Relations writes:

Metropolitan Constantine of Blessed Memory: 1936-2012

Dearly Beloved Brother Hierarchs, Clergy and All Orthodox Faithful:

It is with a profound depth of sadness that we hereby inform you of the repose, in the morning of 21 May, 2012 in the 76 year of his earthly pilgrimage, of His Beatitude Metropolitan Constantine, the Ruling Hierarch of the Central Eparchy and the Primate of our Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.

His Beatitude was stricken with a serious illness just a few weeks ago and was released only three days ago from a local Pittsburgh hospital, which enabled him to participate in the celebration of his 40th anniversary of Archpastoral ministry among the faithful of our Holy Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. This celebration took place at the Dormition of the Mother of God Ukrainian Orthodox Church in McKees Rocks, PA with the presence of his brother Ukrainian Orthodox hierarchs and visiting bishops of other Orthodox jurisdictions, his family from the United States and his beloved spiritual children, the clergy and faithful of the UOC of the USA, South America and Europe.

A message from the President of SSJC-Western Region (Light of the East Newsletter, 2012, Springi) by Fr. George Morelli

It is not often that we are blessed to live in the same lifetime with one who is certainly saintly due to his ever-zealous witness to Christ during a time of unceasing and escalating attacks by Islamists, a time during which he provided loving Christ-like service to his people. Thus, it is with profound human sadness but great spiritual joy that we call to our hearts and minds His Holiness Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III, the Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church that traces back to the holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark, who passed into Eternal Life in Our Lord on March17, 2012.

To “fall asleep in the Lord” in the hope of the Resurrection is a great grace, prayed for by all committed Christians. A witness to the Godly passing of His Holiness recounts that on his last day “…he could not sleep and was seeing holy visions of multitudes waiting for him (the “cloud of witnesses” mentioned in the Epistle to the Hebrews (12: 1).”ii May God now seat him at the front of His banquet table in His Eternal Feast of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Ardent followers of Christ know the soul of His Holiness remains alive in the Eternal Mind of God. His spirit can also remain alive in us, who can emulate his desire for the unity of the Apostolic Churches. The unity of the Apostolic Churches is the primary hope, goal, prayer and service of us who are members of the Society of St. John Chrysostom; furthermore, we pray all Christians be devoted to this unity. Christ Himself prayed for the unity of us all when He cried out to His Heavenly Father: "Holy Father, keep in Thy name those whom Thou hast given Me, in order that they may be one, even as We." (Jn. 17:11)

William George Kafoure was a faithful member of St. George Church [in Indianapolis, IN]. Over the years Bill served on the Parish Council, the Building Committee, and he was our Church Historian. Bill was a founding member of the SOYO youth movement and was President of Midwest SOYO from 1955-56. He was also a member of the Archdiocese Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch.

Bill was the inspiration behind our 85th Anniversary musical, entitled "He's been there the whole time!," which was dedicated to his memory this past weekend.

Bill is survived by his children, William Paul (Coleen) Kafoure, Steven George (Dory) Kafoure, and Leslie Ann (Thomas) Kafoure Baas, grandchildren, Kelly C. Baas, William S. Kafoure, Lynne Herendeen, and Brett Herendeen and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in departure from this life by his wife, Frances H. Risk Kafoure, siblings Richard, Michael and Isabel Kafoure.

Your prayers are requested for the repose of the soul of Subdeacon George Shakour of St. Michael in Beaumont, TX, who reposed on Pascha. Condolences may be sent to his wife Sherridan c/o her parish priest Fr. Michael Pavez at FATHERMICHAEL@prodigy.net. Please join me in praying a rope for the repose of Subdeacon George's soul, saying, "O Lord Jesus Christ, grant rest to the soul of Thy departed servant." May he be granted Paradise, and may you be granted long life.

George Jacob Shakour, 69, of Beaumont, went to be with his Lord unexpectedly on April 15, 2012, at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital. Mr. Shakour was born on November 8, 1942, in Beaumont, to George and Mildred Shakour. He attended Beaumont High, and continued his education at Lamar University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Government. He enlisted in the Army after college, and bravely served his country in the Vietnam War. During his service, he received an Orthodox cross from a priest in Italy which he never took off for the rest of his life. George was a devoted member of St. Michael’s Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church and served as a sub-Deacon there. He also dedicated many hours to the small church of St. John the Divine in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Isaac Paul Bojrab, 88, passed away Friday, March 30, 2012. Born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Ike was a WWII Army Veteran and co-owner of D.G. Bojrab & Sons Well Drilling. He was a member and a founder of St. John Chrysostom Antiochian Orthodox Church in Fort Wayne; The Order of St. Ignatius; Leo Lodge No. 224, F.&A.M.; Scottish Rite; Mizpah Shrine; Trinity Chapter of Eastern Star, #576; and American Legion Post #47. He was blessed with 64 years of marriage to his wife, Marie; sons, Richard (Regina) Bojrab, R. Ph., Paul (Jennifer) Bojrab, MD., both of Ft. Wayne, and Dennis (Andria) Bojrab, MD. of Bloomfield Hills, MI; daughter, Debra (Bill) Fliotsos of Ft. Wayne; and 11 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, David and Sarah (Abdulla) Bojrab; brothers, George and Peter Bojrab; and sisters, Sadie Skaff, Margaret Slyby, and Gladys Koury.

The funeral service was held at 10 am, Monday, April 2, 2012 at St. John Chrysostom Antiochian Orthodox Church, with a Masonic Service at 4:30 pm and Trisagion Prayers at 7:30 pm. Isaac was laid to rest in Lindenwood Cemetery. Memorials may be offered to St. John Chrysostom Church for a special project fund. To sign the online guest book, go to www.mccombandsons.com.

His Grace Bishop Basil has passed along the sad news that Ruth Cohlmia, wife of Jim Cohlmia, has reposed in the Lord. The funeral services will be held in Wichita, Kansas at St. George Cathedral; The day and time has not been established. A short memorial service is tentatively scheduled for Thursday evening, April 5, at 7:00 PM at St. Ignatius Orthodox Mission, 3800 E. Main St., Mesa, AZ.

MEMORY ETERNAL! Libby (Mrs. Joseph) Kohl of St. George Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, longtime member and officer of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America, fell asleep in Christ on the evening of March 17, 2012. The funeral will be served at St. George Church this Wednesday morning. Condolences may be sent to her husband Joe via church@stgeorgecedarrapids.org. Please join me in praying a rope for the repose of Libby's soul, saying, "O Lord Jesus Christ, grant rest to the soul of Thy departed servant." May she be granted Paradise, and may you be granted long life!

Fr. Fred Shaheen, pastor of St. George Orthodox Church, adds:

Libbie was 82 years old and was a member of the St. George Church choir for at least 70 years. From the age of twelve (for nearly 70 years), she was the church organist and played the organ during all the services, including weddings and funerals. In 1998 the organ was phased out of the services and Libbie continued her participation in the choir, eventually becoming choir director and serving in that position for nearly a decade.

Libbie's service to the Church extended beyond her participation in the choir. She attended many choir workshops and symposia at the Antiochian Village and was a fixture at all Midwest and Archdiocesan conferences and meetings. With her husband Joe by her side, Libbie drove across the country to participate in these events. She often took teens from St. George Church with her so they would also have a chance to attend and participate in these events.

Libbie was an active member and an officer in the local and Midwest Region AOCWNA chapters.

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